Propelling mechanism



May 16, 1939. c w. ALLEN PROPELLING MECHANISM i .......fffrllzl/ Original Filed Nov. 28, 1954 @BWM q., @zal ATTORNEY May 16 1939- c. w. ALLEN KPROPELLING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR.

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I4. MACHINE ELEMENTS AND MECHANISMS Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES Search Room PATENT OFFICE PROPELLING MECHANISM Clarence W. Allen, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 2s, s1934, serial No. 755,190 Renewed April 29, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a propelling mechanism which is foot actuated and adapted for lnstallation in boats and is also intended for other purposes.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of foot power propelling mechanisms; to provide a propelling mechanism, including a pair of pedals, a flexible cable connected to each pedal, a pair of drums about Which'the opposite ends of the cables are wound and to which they are secured, a shaft on which the drums are rotatably mounted, means connected with the drums for insuring rotation of the drums in opposition to each other, and means for alternately transmitting the rotary movement of the drums to rotate the shaft so that continuous rotation of the shaft in one direction will be insured; to provide a propelling mechanism of the character described in which slack in the cables is automatically taken up and in which the pedal stroke may be varied from substantially nothing to a full stroke; to provide a propelling mechanism in which the movement of parts and the friction produced is reduced to a minimum; to provide a propelling mechanism which is readily adapted for boat propulsion and steering and which includes a seat in the frame from which the pedals are suspended; to provide a structure of this character which may be readily attached to the boat and in which the seat and pedal supporting frame may be folded with relation to the propelling mechanism when carrying, transporting, or storing the same; and, further, to provide a propelling mechanism which is operated by the feet only, leaving the hands of the operator free for fishing, shooting, or whatever the case may be.

The propelling mechanism is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in

Whichy Fig. l is a side elevation of the same, said side elevation being partially in section. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section taken on line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section takenline V--V of Fig. 8 is a plan view of the propelling mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the propelling mechanism, showing the seat and the foot pedal frame folded with relation thereto.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the head casting.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the bearing cap used in conjunction with the head casting.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the main casting bracket.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, A indicates an elongated casing which tapers from the lower to the upper end and which is substantially elliptical-shape in cross section, see Fig. 3. The lower end of the casing is the widest, while the upper end is the narrowest and terminates in a tubular member I, which is freely rotatable and supported in the head casting generaly indicated at B, which will hereinafter be described.

J ournaled in bearings 2 and 3, secured in the lower end of the casing by means of a cover plate 4 and screws 5, is a propeller shaft 6, on the outer end of which is secured a propeller 1, or any other device to be propelled or driven, and secured centrally of the shaft is a ratchet gear 8. Disposed at opposite ends of the ratchet gear are roller bearings 9 and I 0 and surrounding said bearings, and supported to freely rotate about the bearings, are a pairA of drums I I and I 2 on the exterior surfaces of which are formed helical grooves which are provided for the reception of cables I4, I5 and I6. The cable I4 passes over an idler pulley I1 journaled at Ila, while the respective ends of said cable are wound around the drums and are secured to the inner ends thereof, as indicated at I4a and I 4b. 'Ihe cable I5 is wound around the drum II and the end of the cable is secured to the outer end of the drum, as indicated at I5a. Cable I6 is similarly wound around drum I2 and is secured to the outer end thereof as indicated at IIa.

It has already been stated that the outer faces of the drums are provided with helical grooves for the reception of the several cables. This is important as the grooves form guides whereby the cables are properly guided while winding and unwinding from the drums, thereby preventing crossing or tangling of the cables. It should also be noted that the helical grooves and the cables wound about the drums extend in opposite directions. 'I'his is important as a pull is alternately exerted on the cables I5 and I6 when the propelling mechanism is in operation; hence,

causing reverse rotation of the drums, said reverse rotation of the drums being further insured by the use-of the idler pulley I1 and the cable I4, as the` rotation of the drum I2 in the direction of arrow a, see Fig. 1, by pull on cable I6 will cause cable I6 to unwind and the adjacent end of the cable I4 to wind about the drum I2; hence causing unwinding of the opposite end of the cable I4 from the drum II and winding of cable I5 about the drum II. Conversely, when a pull is exerted on cable I5 the direction of rotation of the drums will be reversed and cable I6 will be wound about drum I2; hence the direction of rotation of the drums will always be in opposition to each other.

From the above descripton it will be obvious that the drums are alternately rotated or driven by the cables I5 and I6, and that if power is to be transmitted to the shaft 6 and the propeller 1 a clutching mechanism of some character must be interposed between the shaft and the respective drums, and that the clutches must act automatically and in opposition to each other.

In the present instance this is accomplished by enlarging the inner ends of the drums, as indicated at I8a and extending them over the ends of the ratchet gear 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and interposing one or more pawls I8 which may be gravity or spring actuated as here shown. Also, overrunning roller clutches may be used, if desired, as the function would be the same; that is, the pawls or rollers will clutch or grip when the drums are rotated in one direction and will ride free during a reverse movement, and as the drums always rotate in opposition to each other the motion transmitted to the shaft 6 and the propeller 1 will be substantially continuous and in one direction.

The propelling mechanism here illustrated is particularly intended for boat propulsion and is adapted to be attached to the stern of a boat as clearly shown in Fig. 7. One of the features of the present invention is to make an attachment which permits the propelling mechanism as ai whole to be quickly applied and removed and which will fit boats of varying width, depth, etc.

The attachment consists of a bracket generally indicated at C, see Fig. 12. This bracket is to be secured to the stern I9 of a boat by means of a pair of clamping screws, such as shown at 20. The bracket is provided with a pair of bearing lugs 2I-2I, through which extends a shaft or pin 22a. This pin serves as a pivotal support for a pair of frame arms 22-22, which form a support for a seat section 23 and a back rest 24. The shaft also forms a support for a pair of guide pulleys 25 which are freely rotatable thereon. A second pair of bearing lugs are formed on the bracket as indicated at 26-26. A shaft or pin extends therethrough and this forms a pivotal connection between the head casting B, see Fig. l0, and the bracket C and it also forms a support for a pair of guide pulleys 21. The arms 22 supporting the seat 23*l and the back rest indicated at 24, are brought together at their forward ends and are connected by a forked member 28 and a pin 29 extending -through the same. member carries a forwardly extending rod 38 which terminates in a bracket 3I. The pivot pin extends through the bracket and this pin carries a pair of foot pedals 32 and 33, the bracket 3| and the rod 38 being normally supported in the position shown in Fig. '7 by a foot member 34; the seat supporting arms 22 being similarly sup- The forked l ported as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 by a foot member 35.

With the mechanism installed in a boat. such as shown in Fig. 7, cables I5 and I6 are passed upwardly through the tubular extension I and over the guide pulleys 21 and then under guide pulley 25 and they are then extended forwardly under the seat 23 and are attached to the foot pedals 33 and 32. Hence, if an operator assumes a seated position, the feet will rest on the pedals and by working them back and forth a pulling action will be alternately exerted on the cables I5 and I6 and power will be transmitted to the shaft 6 and the propeller carried thereby and the boat will be propelled in a forward direction. It is, of course, also necessary to steer the boat and this is readily accomplished due to the fact that the casing A is provided with a tubular extension I, as previously described.

'I'his tubular extension is secured in the head casting B by a bearing cap B', but is free to rotate therein; hence by forming a rearwardly extending bracket 38 on the upper end of the tubular extension and securing a rod 39 therein, see

Fig. 8, it becomes possible to attach a handle 40 to the outer end of the rod, hence by exerting a push or pull action on the handle the whole casing A may be turned in one direction or another, making the steering operation simple.

To detach the mechanism as a whole it is only necessary to release the clamping screws 28 and then to fold the leg 34 against the bar 30 and then to fold the bar 30, together with the pedals, downwardly against the seat 23 and to there secure them by merely swinging the backrest over the same. Finally, it is only necessary to grasp a handle 4I formed on the upper end of the head casting and to lift the mechanism as a whole out of the boat, and when this is done the arms 22 supporting the seat will swing downwardly against the casing A and will finally assume the folded position shown in Fig. 9. In this position the whole mechanism is compactly folded and may be easily carried or transported, stored, or otherwise taken care of.

The propelling mechanism, as previously described, drives shaft 6 in one direction only. Reverse rotation of the shaft is not desirable as it might cause tangling of the cables I4', I5 and I6 which are wound about the respective drums II and I2. To prevent reverse movement, for instance when pushing the boat backwards through the water or otherwise, a pawl 40 is employed, see Figs. 1 and 2. This pawl is pivoted to the case at 4I and engages the center portion of the water acts as a lubricant for the operating parts and it also slows down the movement of pawl 40, thus permitting the pawl to ride freely over the ratchet when this turns in the proper direction, thereby reducing the clicking sound which would otherwise be produced. On the other hand it permits the pawl to engage if reverse movement takes place. A check valve 45 is placed in the bottom of the case. This permits the water in the case to freely discharge when the propelling device as a whole is lifted out of the water but as the valve closes against a seat 46 it prevents sand and mud, etc. from entering the case when touching bottom or if the case is set down in sand or mud ashore.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and nish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a drive shaft, a toothed ratchet member in the form of a sleeve secured on the shaft intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of drums journaled on the shaft, one on each side of the ratchet member, one drum having a left-hand helical groove formed on its face and extending from end to end thereof and the other drum having a right-hand helical groove formed in its face and extending from end to end thereof, inner and outer cable anchoring members on each drum at opposite ends thereof, a pawl on each drum engaging the ratchet member, an idler pulley disposed above the drums, a ilexible control cable passing over said idler pulley, one end cf the cable being wound around the inner half of the left-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the inner anchor member of said drum and the other end of the cable being wound around the inner half of the right-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the inner anchor member of said drum, said cable causing rotation of the drums in opposite directions when power is transmitted to rotate the drums and also causing the pawls carried by the drums to alternately engage the ratchet member and transmit rotation to the drive shaft in one direction, a. pair of flexible power transmitting pull cables, one end of one cable being wound around the outer end of the left-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the anchor member at the outer end of the drum and one end of the other cable being wound around the outer end of the right-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the anchor member at the outer end of that drum, and means connected with the opposite ends of the last-named pair of pull cables for alternately exerting a pull thereon to rotate the drums in opposite directions.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a drive shaft, a pair of drums journaled on the shaft, one drum having a left-hand helical groove formed in its face extending from end to end thereof and the other drum having a right-hand helical groove form-ed in its face extending from end to end thereof, inner and outer cable anchoring members on each drum at opposite ends, an idler pulley disposed above the drums, a fiexible control cable passing over said idler pulley, one end of the cable being wound around the inner half of the left-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the inner anchor member of said drum, and the other end of the cable being wound around the inner half of the righthand helically grooved drum and secured to the inner anchor member of said drum, said cable causing rotation of the drums in opposite directions when power is transmitted to rotate the drums, a ratchet drive formed between each drum and the drive shaft whereby the alternate rotations of the drums are transmitted to rotate the drive shaft in one direction, a pair of flexible power transmitting pull cables, one end of one cable being wound around the outer end of the left-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the anchor member at the outer end of the drum, and one end of the other cable being wound around the outer end of the right-hand helically grooved drum and secured to the anchor member at the outer end of that drum,

and means connected with the opposite ends of the last-named pair of pull cables for alternately exerting a pull thereon to rotate the drums in opposite directions.

CLARENCE W. ALLEN. 

